This was a very easy article to write. I was late in getting started this month, and as my publication deadline got closer and I could no longer wait until I "felt" like writing an article, I was forced to sit down and do it. In doing it, I thought about the last month (when I meant to be getting started on this as well as other creative projects), and I identified seven things that have gotten in the way of my creativity. Maybe you'll see yourself in some of these.
1. Not getting enough sleep ? I noticed this one the most when I DID finally get a good, long sleep (the night before writing this, actually). All of a sudden my muse was speaking to me again (see below for more on that), the day looked positive and full of promise and I was open to the ideas that are always flowing around me. And I just plain felt good! Sleep is something I write and speak a lot about, and it's still a practice I need to consciously keep up so I don't slip back into bad habits.
2. Trying to do it alone ? Bouncing ideas off someone else is invaluable to me. When I stop before I start (see below), and I don't consult or collaborate with others, I miss out on the collective voices that are available to me. Just hearing my own telling of an idea ? reading it aloud or describing it ? can be enough. Any feedback or new ideas is a bonus. If the idea is really fresh and precious, I may ask the listener not to give feedback, and let them know I just need a sounding board at this point.
3. Stopping before I start ? Not carrying out my creative projects because of self-doubt, real or imagined obstacles, perfectionism or generalized fear. When it came to writing today's article, I had to "Just Start".
4. Poverty mentality ?It's very constricting to be worried about money all the time. I'm doing a lot of reading and learning about this topic right now ? I'm sure I'll be able to share more in future issues.
5. A cluttered work/living space ? It's been over two years since I finished my first major de-cluttering and it's time for another one! Exciting! While my living space has stayed tidy, some clutter (things I don't need, use or love) has crept back in and is starting to gnaw at me.
6. Disconnection from my inner wisdom ? When I'm rested and feeling well, I can much more easily tap into the ideas that are flowing around me. Whether it's being open to something useful in an article I'm reading, or just listening for the solution of that problem I've been struggling with for a few days (and really, it just "came to me"), the answers are there.
7. Disconnection from my body ? If I'd been paying closer attention to my body's needs, I think I would have arranged sooner for some nights of extra sleep. I need to listen to the messages my body is sending me ? do I feel nourished by the food I'm eating (or am I getting hungry too often), am I hydrated (or do I feel thirsty or light-headed, or is my skin extra-dry)? Am I showing physical signs of stress ? muscle tightness, shallow breathing or headaches? My body will reward me if I listen to it, use common sense and give it what it wants.
If you saw yourself in some of these examples, take heart. Awareness is the most important step for change to take place. To look in more detail at your self-care habits, take the free quiz on the "Resources" page of my website.
(c) Copyright 2005, Genuine Coaching Services.
Linda Dessau, the Self-Care Coach, helps artists enhance their creativity by addressing their unique self-care issues. If you want to read more about what might be getting in the way of your creativity, sign-up for the Roadblocks to Creativity e-course ? it's free! And it includes a subscription to Everyday Artist, Linda's monthly email newsletter. Grab it now by visiting http://www.genuinecoaching.com
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
If your to-do list seems as long at the end... Read More
1. Connect with your DREAM ? Indulge yourself in a... Read More
It was 8:00 PM and I'd hit a creative wall... Read More
Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could just flick a... Read More
We experience creativity every time a fresh idea pops into... Read More
Unleash Your Creativity! Creativity has often been the misunderstood... Read More
BRAINSTORMING: The basic tool used in generating many possible solutions... Read More
Someone once said that man keeps looking for truth that... Read More
"If you really want to upset your parents?go into the... Read More
Engaged employees can show us the way to continuously improve.... Read More
In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition.They offered... Read More
When stressed or blocked it is wise to make a... Read More
This may come as a surprise... but many marketers are... Read More
Keeping a journal is a form of creative expression that... Read More
In my "Roadblocks to Creativity" e-course, I ask the question:"What's... Read More
I believe that as solo-entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives we... Read More
Structure is beneficial to creative output in a number of... Read More
Everyone's a poet.Of course, everyone's a critic, too! This means... Read More
What would you like to create? A peaceful life, a... Read More
This quick course in creativity is designed to give you... Read More
Let's begin by defining the optimal mind state and the... Read More
I used to be a jazz singer. Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah... Read More
Go on, pick up a pen, hold it in your... Read More
Can we codify creativity? Within these few words are a... Read More
"For the love a' creation!", my father was fond of... Read More
Cultivating your creativity is more than spending time with a... Read More
Learning a few good problem solving techniques can improve your... Read More
There is no sure fire route to commercial success but... Read More
"It is never too late to be what you might... Read More
Lately I've been discussing how to thrive as a creative... Read More
Here are some odds & ends I have observed in... Read More
Creativity alone can make you money and no matter what... Read More
Dear friends the current study shows that there are more... Read More
With news about Iraq and London and even our own... Read More
These days it's all about breaking things down into manageable... Read More
Here in England September represents the end of Summer and... Read More
In my life, sleep is the number one way that... Read More
Doing anything creative often brings up fears, anxieties, insecurities. Courage... Read More
From time immemorial mankind has wished for an Aladin's lamp,... Read More
Spring is in full bloom, which means it's 'get back... Read More
Time is the great equalizer. Everybody has the exact same... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
New inventions? Heard of a revolving restaurant combination television tower?... Read More
"If you really want to upset your parents?go into the... Read More
Lately I've been discussing how to thrive as a creative... Read More
Creativity for the mystic has special meaning. In the world... Read More
Sustained myths about Creativity and Innovation lead to confusion, bad... Read More
The process of creative thinking is often, mistakenly, intertwined with... Read More
Successful companies have innovation in their blood. The single most... Read More
How many times does an artist stare down at that... Read More
Here are a couple of exercises to force yourself to... Read More
When you think about the legacies Walt Disney left us,... Read More
Bare attention (to objects, people and circumstances) is what brings... Read More
What if there is no toilet paper and I am... Read More
While the inception of penicillin brought a bit of a... Read More
Someone once said that man keeps looking for truth that... Read More
My grandmother used to say that the secret to living... Read More
All things begin in consciousness.Consciousness originates everything that is manifest.... Read More
Have you ever had one of those days when you... Read More
In 1420, the dignitaries of Florence held a competition.They offered... Read More
1. Connect with your DREAM ? Indulge yourself in a... Read More
We all have enormous reserves of mental capacity that we... Read More
Variety is the spice of life, but spices, historically are... Read More
When solving problems after you have exhausted the normal means... Read More
We all use tools in our work, and all of... Read More
Creativity |